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Nurturing your Child's Development and
Supporting your Transition Home
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About Us
Graduating from the NICU can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time! Transitioning home can feel isolating after having a large team in the NICU. But you don’t have to do it alone.
AZ NICU Grads is here to support your baby and you through the first year of life. We offer structured activity groups, family suport and skilled Occupational and Feeding Therapy services.
Co-Founders Dee and Ramya are passionate about using their extensive professional knowledge to support you and your baby!
Because What Happens in the NICU
Doesn't Stay in the NICU!
Our Team
Ramya and Dee first met in the outpatient setting where they provided pediatric occupational and feeding therapy. Their professional lives took them through a journey of working in the NICU and with NICU graduates in a variety of settings.
After frequent, often emotional conversations about the gaps in service and support they were seeing, the two of them came together to form AZ NICU Grads. With one goal in mind...providing a nurturing space for babies and their families once they leave the NICU.
Dee and Ramya truly believe that every touch and every experience shapes the future!
Collectively they have over 20years of experience in the NICU and community based settings, advanced certifications, specialties like splinting, neonatal massage and lactation support
Ramya Kumar MS.CCC-SLP
BCSS, CNT, IBCLC, NTMTC
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Diana Thies Dee Thies MS OTR/L
CNT, NTMTC
Owner & Speech Language Pathologist
My name is Ramya and I'm passionate about helping families create deep bonds with their babies, especially in times that can be stressful and traumatic. I believe that every individual no matter how small has a voice, and I feel priviledged to be part of that journey! My quest to provide trauma-informed, holistic, whole-body care has led me to several courses and certifications.
My husband and fur baby have been there thorugh it all, cheering all my adventures!
Being able to come together and create AZNICUGrads is a dream come true! The ability to empower, encourage and support families who have had a NICU journey is priceless.
Owner & Occupational Therapist
My name is Diana, but also go by Dee, and have a passion for working with young people and their caregivers. I strive to connect with each family I encounter and identify ways I can support their journey throughout development. The last 13 years have enabled me to grow my skills as a clinician while my personal journeys created a foundation for them to bloom.
My husband and I have 2 sweet kiddos that continue to teach us how to be flexible, love unconditionally and find the joy in the small things.
I am grateful to be a part of creating a community for NICU graduates and their families as they try to find strength, connect, and grow.
Certifications and Trainings
Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing Disorders
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Certified Neonatal Therapist
Certified in Neonatal Massage
Trauma Informed Professional
Small Baby Care Specialist
Advance Training includes:
Cranial Sacral Therapy
Tummy Time Method
Oromyofunctional Therapy
Tethered Oral Tissues (Tongue and Lip Ties)
Certifications and Trainings
Certified Neonatal Therapist
Certified in Neonatal Massage
Advance Training Includes:
Neonatal & Pediatric Splinting
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